I’ve been writing the novelization column for over two years now, and over that time, the trend of writing new adaptations for older films has become increasingly popular. Which is good, because I’ve exhausted a hefty portion of my existing collection, and the older ones tend to be pretty expensive to track down. I love doing the column, but I do not love the idea of dropping three figures on a battered old copy of the New Nightmare novelization, you know?
The fun thing about these newer adaptations is that the authors are actual fans of the films they’re covering. Max Allan Collins, Dennis Etchison, Alan Dean Foster, and all of the other writers whose names frequently adorn the covers of the novelized versions of our favorite movies were working from the script for a movie they hadn’t even seen yet, let alone had any deep appreciation for. But that’s not the case for the releases from Stop The Killer, Encyclopocalypse, and other boutique labels that have increased their output over the past couple of years.
Echo On Publications is another fast-growing supplier of such fare, having already tackled such beloved genre mainstays as In The Mouth of Madness, Session 9, and the Maniac Cop trilogy, among others. All authored by Christian Francis, these releases restore deleted scenes, add backstories for the characters, and generally just give you MORE of a story you presumably already love.
And who doesn’t love From Dusk Till Dawn? Robert Rodriguez’s 1996 action/horror blend performed decently enough at the box office, but found even more success on video and cable to become a genuine cult classic, spawning two sequels and a TV show. At the time, Quentin Tarantino’s screenplay was published, offering a few glimpses of excised material, but now Francis has given it the full-blown novelization treatment.
Even better, he’s roped in some notable names to provide extra material for the book! Read on for all the details, and look for my take on the novel in an upcoming installment of the column (which I really should give a name after all this time, huh?)
In April 2026, Horror publisher Echo On Publications will release a new novelization of the classic film From Dusk Till Dawn. Based on Robert Kurtzman’s original treatment and Quentin Tarantino’s screenplay, this is not your typical novelization.
Written by Christian Francis and Kurtzman, this is a complete reimagining. More brutal, more expansive and built from the ground up. It features previously unfilmed scenes and characters, along with an all-new ending that will surprise even longtime fans. All editions will include an introduction by legendary special makeup effects artist (and Sex Machine himself) Tom Savini, and a foreword by Robert Kurtzman.
The hardcover edition will also feature an exclusive gallery of storyboards and concept art, along with the full original treatment. Kurtzman said, “The book takes elements from the original story and elements from the screenplay but expands them in ways the film never could. In prose, we’re able to dive deeper and explore moments that only existed between the lines of the script. Some action plays out differently here, some scenes unfold in new ways, and there are variations that fans of the movie will immediately notice. The core of the story is the same, but the experience is richer, more internal, and in some places entirely new. My hope is that longtime fans will enjoy seeing this alternate version of a world they already know so well, and that new readers will discover the same strange, pulpy, genre-bending energy that sparked the whole thing in the first place.”
The book will be released in hardcover, paperback, and eBook formats on 30th June 2026 (with an audiobook edition to follow). Cover art created by Creepy Carves.
For future novelization announcements and the full release schedule, visit
Echo On's official website.
